0:00:02 > 0:00:06Welcome to a world where nothing is quite as it seems.
0:00:06 > 0:00:07Welcome to Fake Britain.
0:00:09 > 0:00:10Police!
0:00:20 > 0:00:22- Get down! Get down! - Down on the floor! Down!
0:00:22 > 0:00:25Put your hands behind your back now.
0:00:25 > 0:00:26Here at the Fake Britain house,
0:00:26 > 0:00:29we'll reveal the fakes that are flooding the market,
0:00:29 > 0:00:33conning people like you and me and making money for the criminals.
0:00:33 > 0:00:37We'll investigate the fraudsters who are selling us something
0:00:37 > 0:00:40that isn't real and could be dangerous.
0:00:40 > 0:00:44And we'll help you avoid falling for a fake.
0:00:44 > 0:00:45Today on Fake Britain,
0:00:45 > 0:00:48the dangerous ladders that could lead to disaster.
0:00:48 > 0:00:49I could have broke my ankle,
0:00:49 > 0:00:53and I am self-employed - that would have been my livelihood.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56The fluffy hot water bottles that could kill your child.
0:00:56 > 0:00:59All that separates the child using this from mains electricity
0:00:59 > 0:01:01is this thin piece of plastic.
0:01:01 > 0:01:06The experts using technology to catch the identity fakers.
0:01:06 > 0:01:08His image has been placed onto this counterfeit visa
0:01:08 > 0:01:11in order for them to gain status.
0:01:12 > 0:01:17And the fake wood-burning stove installers putting lives at risk.
0:01:17 > 0:01:19We expected to have a fully-functioning wood burner
0:01:19 > 0:01:22and instead, our home was filling with smoke.
0:01:28 > 0:01:32It is very useful, but it is also potentially very dangerous.
0:01:32 > 0:01:34Yes, it is a ladder.
0:01:34 > 0:01:38We would all expect that any ladder we buy would be safe.
0:01:38 > 0:01:42Every ladder sold here in the UK has to meet basic safety standards.
0:01:42 > 0:01:46Unfortunately, Fake Britain has found that is not true.
0:01:46 > 0:01:51Knowing that when you're standing up here, not a great feeling.
0:01:54 > 0:01:58It is reckoned there are two million ladders in use across the country.
0:01:59 > 0:02:01You can buy one from a whole range of places,
0:02:01 > 0:02:03from online sellers to major supermarkets.
0:02:06 > 0:02:10But last year, ladders were the cause of over 50,000 visits to A & E.
0:02:11 > 0:02:15Little wonder that they need to meet stringent product standards
0:02:15 > 0:02:17before being sold to the general public.
0:02:19 > 0:02:23All ladders manufactured and supplied within Britain and the EU
0:02:23 > 0:02:27should be manufactured to specific standards and correctly classified.
0:02:30 > 0:02:33But as Keith Dorman from Cambridgeshire discovered,
0:02:33 > 0:02:36not every ladder's safety claims can be trusted.
0:02:36 > 0:02:38Keith had decided to buy a ladder,
0:02:38 > 0:02:43so he went online and quickly found one that he thought could do the job.
0:02:43 > 0:02:47The product clearly stated it could hold 150kg,
0:02:47 > 0:02:49or around 23st.
0:02:49 > 0:02:53The weight stated on the details of the item,
0:02:53 > 0:02:57I automatically thought that would take my weight.
0:02:57 > 0:03:01But the ladder wasn't all that it appeared to be.
0:03:01 > 0:03:05The first time I used it, I took it into the kitchen to hang a curtain
0:03:05 > 0:03:10and as I put my foot on the bottom step,
0:03:10 > 0:03:14put some weight on, the step folded around my foot.
0:03:14 > 0:03:18And I stepped back in shock that it had broke.
0:03:19 > 0:03:22Keith feels as though he had a lucky escape.
0:03:23 > 0:03:25I could have broke my ankle.
0:03:25 > 0:03:29And I am self-employed - that would have been my livelihood.
0:03:29 > 0:03:33So, to me personally, it could have been...
0:03:33 > 0:03:34terrible.
0:03:34 > 0:03:36Fake Britain has discovered that Keith is not the only victim
0:03:36 > 0:03:39of potentially dangerous ladders out there.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45Online, there are dozens of reports of ladders buckling or breaking,
0:03:45 > 0:03:48sometimes on their very first outing.
0:03:52 > 0:03:56And so, the authorities have decided to investigate whether some retailers
0:03:56 > 0:03:58are selling ladders that carry fake claims
0:03:58 > 0:04:00about their strength and safety.
0:04:02 > 0:04:05Acting on a tip-off, Ian Millward from Derbyshire Trading Standards
0:04:05 > 0:04:09decided to test the market for fake ladders.
0:04:09 > 0:04:11We went out looking for examples of these.
0:04:11 > 0:04:13Some of these were only available online,
0:04:13 > 0:04:16some were available through high-street stores.
0:04:17 > 0:04:20All of the ladders that Trading Standards test-purchased
0:04:20 > 0:04:22displayed various safety markings,
0:04:22 > 0:04:26including claims to meet specific ladder safety requirements.
0:04:29 > 0:04:32Ian Millward wanted to see if the safety claims were genuine,
0:04:32 > 0:04:35so he sent the ladders for independent testing.
0:04:36 > 0:04:41The telescopic ladder tested by Trading Standards extends to 3.75m
0:04:41 > 0:04:45and is a type of ladder used by many professional tradesmen.
0:04:45 > 0:04:47And in this case, when it was tested,
0:04:47 > 0:04:52two of the lock-in pins have actually seized in place.
0:04:52 > 0:04:54The safety claims on this ladder were fake
0:04:54 > 0:04:58and this fault could have resulted in fingers being trapped between rungs.
0:05:01 > 0:05:03All four of the retailers that sold these ladders,
0:05:03 > 0:05:08including a supermarket chain, were given a caution by Trading Standards
0:05:08 > 0:05:11and all of these products have been removed from sale.
0:05:14 > 0:05:17Fake Britain decided to investigate if other potentially dangerous
0:05:17 > 0:05:20ladders with fake safety markings might be on sale.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24Following a tip-off from an industry insider,
0:05:24 > 0:05:28we purchased a telescopic ladder from a Cardiff branch
0:05:28 > 0:05:32of cash-and-carry Makro UK, now part of the Booker Group.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35The ladder was of a similar type to the telescopic one
0:05:35 > 0:05:38previously bought and tested by Trading Standards,
0:05:38 > 0:05:42and claimed to have been tested by the safety certification company SGS.
0:05:44 > 0:05:45We sent the ladder to be tested
0:05:45 > 0:05:47at the British Standards Institution, BSI.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52Mark Mayo is BSI's ladder expert.
0:05:52 > 0:05:55We're testing this ladder to the requirements of EN 131,
0:05:55 > 0:05:58because that's what it is claiming compliance with.
0:06:00 > 0:06:03Mark will test the ladder for torsion,
0:06:03 > 0:06:06which is the degree to which it twists when subjected to pressure.
0:06:07 > 0:06:11By law, this ladder should be able to twist no more than 18 degrees,
0:06:11 > 0:06:14meaning it won't topple over if the person on it
0:06:14 > 0:06:17shifts their weight to the left or right.
0:06:26 > 0:06:31Initial reading is 25.9, which is way over the 18 that is allowed,
0:06:31 > 0:06:34and it is rising as the twist continues in the ladder.
0:06:38 > 0:06:40The readings are still going up.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43It is a definite failure to EN 131.
0:06:43 > 0:06:45As we saw from the packaging and the ladder itself,
0:06:45 > 0:06:49they are claiming to meet the requirements of EN 131.
0:06:49 > 0:06:50That is fake.
0:06:50 > 0:06:53It doesn't meet that requirement, has we can quite clearly see,
0:06:53 > 0:06:55and the ladder is not fit for purpose.
0:06:55 > 0:06:57It is a big fail for the ladder.
0:06:57 > 0:07:01It carries fake safety labelling and it could be dangerous.
0:07:02 > 0:07:05We contacted Blackspur, part of Hamble Distribution,
0:07:05 > 0:07:08who supplied Makro with the ladder that we bought.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11Blackspur sent us this SGS certificate and report
0:07:11 > 0:07:15for the ladder, which we sent to SGS for inspection.
0:07:15 > 0:07:20SGS revealed that the certificate and report had been faked,
0:07:20 > 0:07:23telling us some of the results have been altered.
0:07:32 > 0:07:35The test results that had been faked related to torsion.
0:07:35 > 0:07:38Blackspur told us that they had been cheated
0:07:38 > 0:07:41and that the genuine report had been altered without their knowledge.
0:07:41 > 0:07:45We contacted Booker Group plc, who own Makro, and they said...
0:08:03 > 0:08:07A passport is probably the most sophisticated and complex document
0:08:07 > 0:08:08we will ever hold.
0:08:08 > 0:08:11It is made under high security conditions and it is designed
0:08:11 > 0:08:16to protect you, your identity and the security of the country.
0:08:16 > 0:08:19ID documents are the most forged in the world
0:08:19 > 0:08:23and telling the real from the fake can be extremely challenging.
0:08:23 > 0:08:26We followed the work of the National Document Fraud Unit
0:08:26 > 0:08:29as they took on a case of suspicious IDs.
0:08:32 > 0:08:35Around 200 million people enter and leave Britain every year.
0:08:35 > 0:08:39Border Force teams stationed at entry points across the UK
0:08:39 > 0:08:41are responsible for making sure everyone
0:08:41 > 0:08:45coming into or leaving the country is who they claim to be.
0:08:46 > 0:08:49But the use of fake ID documents is on the rise.
0:08:49 > 0:08:52Last year, Home Office enforcement teams arrested
0:08:52 > 0:08:56over 10,000 people attempting to use fake documents at the border.
0:08:59 > 0:09:03When authorities need to detect whether an identification is fake,
0:09:03 > 0:09:06they contact the National Document Fraud Unit.
0:09:06 > 0:09:10The team there are uniquely equipped to uncover identity fakery.
0:09:15 > 0:09:19Henry Bara is in charge of thousands of these genuine ID documents
0:09:19 > 0:09:21from all over the world.
0:09:23 > 0:09:28We have documents, passports, identity cards, driving licences.
0:09:28 > 0:09:32For instance, here - Sierra Leonean passports.
0:09:32 > 0:09:34Somalia. Soviet Union.
0:09:34 > 0:09:36South Sudan.
0:09:36 > 0:09:38Driving licences.
0:09:38 > 0:09:40Kazakhstan. Greece.
0:09:40 > 0:09:41The United States.
0:09:43 > 0:09:46In total, there are nearly 100,000 of these legitimate ID documents
0:09:46 > 0:09:48in the archive.
0:09:50 > 0:09:53Sometimes the best way to spot a fake document
0:09:53 > 0:09:55is by looking at the real thing.
0:09:56 > 0:10:00We use these as comparison documents, so if a document
0:10:00 > 0:10:02is referred to is for an opinion as to their authenticity,
0:10:02 > 0:10:06we will hopefully have a document of that same series.
0:10:07 > 0:10:11When Home Office enforcement officers suspect that they've found a fake,
0:10:11 > 0:10:13they get in touch with the experts.
0:10:15 > 0:10:19And today, these suspected fake documents have just arrived.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22They've been sent by the police and were being used by three men
0:10:22 > 0:10:26who were detained at the Eurostar terminal at King's Cross St Pancras.
0:10:28 > 0:10:31Customs officials thought the documents looked suspicious
0:10:31 > 0:10:34and the police are holding the men while the documents are assessed.
0:10:37 > 0:10:40On initial inspection, Nadia Bremner, an analyst,
0:10:40 > 0:10:43doesn't like the look of these visas.
0:10:43 > 0:10:45I've got some concerns with the visa,
0:10:45 > 0:10:47so I'll have a proper look at it under higher magnification.
0:10:52 > 0:10:54I'm looking at the background print on the visa.
0:10:54 > 0:10:57I'm looking to see if it's been printed correctly
0:10:57 > 0:10:58and looking for fine lines of solid colour.
0:10:58 > 0:11:01Here it kind of breaks down into random coloured dots
0:11:01 > 0:11:03and that's not what you want to see.
0:11:03 > 0:11:05Now I'm going to compare the background print in this visa
0:11:05 > 0:11:07to a genuine document
0:11:07 > 0:11:09and just have a look at the differences between the two.
0:11:12 > 0:11:14You can see that with the genuine document,
0:11:14 > 0:11:17you've got lots of crisp, clear print,
0:11:17 > 0:11:21fine lines of solid colour, nice, legible extra-small print,
0:11:21 > 0:11:24and if you can compare that to the suspect document,
0:11:24 > 0:11:25where you've got lots of dots
0:11:25 > 0:11:27and it is just a really overall poor quality.
0:11:29 > 0:11:32Nadia examines every detail on the visa.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35I'm looking at the background print to see how that interacts
0:11:35 > 0:11:38with the holographic feature, because the background print
0:11:38 > 0:11:40should run over the top of the holographic device.
0:11:42 > 0:11:45This entire visa appears to me to be counterfeit
0:11:45 > 0:11:49and his image has been placed onto this counterfeit visa
0:11:49 > 0:11:51in order for him to gain status in Italy.
0:11:52 > 0:11:54So, the visas are fake.
0:11:54 > 0:11:58What about the UK residency documents two of the men were found with?
0:12:00 > 0:12:04So, this residence permit grants him access to the UK as a student,
0:12:04 > 0:12:07so he can live and remain in the UK as long as he's a student,
0:12:07 > 0:12:10but he can work 20 hours per week maximum.
0:12:10 > 0:12:13On first glance with this one, it doesn't look too brilliant,
0:12:13 > 0:12:16to be honest. There's a white border along the edge here,
0:12:16 > 0:12:19the left and right-hand side edges, which there shouldn't be,
0:12:19 > 0:12:22so I'd like to have a proper look at that under magnification.
0:12:25 > 0:12:28I'm particularly interested in where the colours merge together,
0:12:28 > 0:12:31so where you've got pink that should merge nicely into blue.
0:12:31 > 0:12:34I'm going to have a quick look at that with a genuine document
0:12:34 > 0:12:37and see how that is in a genuine specimen.
0:12:41 > 0:12:43So, this is a genuine specimen that I'm looking at now
0:12:43 > 0:12:46on the left-hand side of the screen.
0:12:46 > 0:12:49And under magnification, as with the visas,
0:12:49 > 0:12:52we're looking for crisp, nice quality print.
0:12:52 > 0:12:55This one's got extra-small print running along under here.
0:12:55 > 0:12:58You can see it is quite legible - GBR and EU.
0:12:58 > 0:13:01Lots of extra-small print, lots of nice quality colours
0:13:01 > 0:13:05and the blue and pink merge together quite nicely.
0:13:05 > 0:13:07Fake IDs are designed to fool the naked eye,
0:13:07 > 0:13:10but not a powerful microscope.
0:13:10 > 0:13:13Again, at this stage, just by looking at it with magnification,
0:13:13 > 0:13:16you can see that the one on the right is a fake residence permit.
0:13:18 > 0:13:21The three men found holding these fake documents pleaded guilty
0:13:21 > 0:13:24and were sentenced to four months in prison for possession
0:13:24 > 0:13:28of controlled identity documents with intent to use.
0:13:28 > 0:13:30They're currently awaiting deportation.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35Henry Bara thinks the problem is getting worse.
0:13:36 > 0:13:39I think a lot of organised criminal gangs seem to be
0:13:39 > 0:13:41diverting into this area
0:13:41 > 0:13:45of producing and distributing false documents
0:13:45 > 0:13:49simply because the penalties for getting caught seem to be a lot less
0:13:49 > 0:13:53than, for instance, more traditional careers such as drugs smuggling.
0:13:54 > 0:13:57And the fakers' ability to produce convincing fakes
0:13:57 > 0:13:59is improving dramatically.
0:13:59 > 0:14:04We have seen some frighteningly, frighteningly high quality
0:14:04 > 0:14:06false documents recently.
0:14:06 > 0:14:09One particular case comes to mind of somebody that
0:14:09 > 0:14:12applied for asylum in 47 different identities.
0:14:12 > 0:14:17That would then mean the benefits to which they would be entitled
0:14:17 > 0:14:20would be granted at each of those identities.
0:14:22 > 0:14:26The unit has examined over 30,000 suspected fake ID documents
0:14:26 > 0:14:28over the past five years,
0:14:28 > 0:14:30providing key evidence in numerous criminal cases.
0:14:32 > 0:14:35We would like to think that we are a thorn in the side of forgers
0:14:35 > 0:14:39and organised criminal gangs. We certainly do our best.
0:14:39 > 0:14:42We won't pretend we are on top of the problem.
0:14:42 > 0:14:44It seems to be a burgeoning industry.
0:14:44 > 0:14:46It's clearly very lucrative.
0:14:46 > 0:14:48The battle goes on.
0:14:55 > 0:14:58We spend more per head on toys than anywhere else in Europe.
0:14:58 > 0:15:01The industry is huge and worth billions.
0:15:01 > 0:15:05What that means is that there's vast choice for mums and dads
0:15:05 > 0:15:06and, of course, children.
0:15:06 > 0:15:10But you wouldn't want to choose any of these because they are all fake.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13We have found that fakes like these are openly on sale throughout
0:15:13 > 0:15:17the UK, and despite every toy in this country being subject to
0:15:17 > 0:15:21strict regulations, some are among the most dangerous objects
0:15:21 > 0:15:24children will ever come into contact with.
0:15:26 > 0:15:29It is early morning in Salford and Caroline Clarke
0:15:29 > 0:15:34and her team from Trading Standards are en route to a toy shop.
0:15:34 > 0:15:35But this is no ordinary toy shop.
0:15:37 > 0:15:39Today, we are looking for counterfeit tots -
0:15:39 > 0:15:42Shaun The Sheep toys, Disney toys, Frozen toys -
0:15:42 > 0:15:44and we are looking to seize them.
0:15:45 > 0:15:48The team have had a tip-off that there are fake toys
0:15:48 > 0:15:50for sale on the high street.
0:15:51 > 0:15:53We're acting on intelligence that we received yesterday
0:15:53 > 0:15:56from a referring Trading Standards department
0:15:56 > 0:15:58who has found these goods in their area.
0:15:58 > 0:16:01Trading Standards aren't quite sure what to expect,
0:16:01 > 0:16:02so they have brought backup.
0:16:07 > 0:16:10- Hi.- Hiya.- I'm from Trading Standards at Salford Council.
0:16:11 > 0:16:15Inside, the officers find a sight that would thrill any child.
0:16:15 > 0:16:18These shelves are crammed full with popular toys,
0:16:18 > 0:16:20products sold up and down the country.
0:16:20 > 0:16:24But not everything for sale here is what it appears to be.
0:16:24 > 0:16:28The officers immediately spot some dolls from the Disney film Frozen.
0:16:28 > 0:16:32They don't look quite right, but the shop owner claims they are genuine.
0:16:32 > 0:16:34What we'll do is we'll take them today, leave you a full list
0:16:34 > 0:16:36- of everything we've taken. - No problem.
0:16:36 > 0:16:40We'll send them off and let you know how it's progressing.
0:16:40 > 0:16:42- If they come back as genuine, you get your stock back.- Sure.
0:16:42 > 0:16:44If they don't, we'll take it from there. OK.
0:16:46 > 0:16:49But these toys aren't the only suspected fakes here.
0:16:49 > 0:16:53The officers are spotting other toys they think look suspicious.
0:16:53 > 0:16:58Barbie, Spider-Man, Shaun The Sheep, Ben 10.
0:16:58 > 0:17:01They are being sold out of what looks at first sight
0:17:01 > 0:17:02like a respectable store.
0:17:04 > 0:17:07The officers now set about bagging and tagging the items
0:17:07 > 0:17:09they believe to be fake.
0:17:09 > 0:17:12They are in for a long day as there are hundreds of items here
0:17:12 > 0:17:14all claiming to be well-known brands.
0:17:15 > 0:17:18Despicable Me 2. Obviously that is a trademark.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22Piggy banks, or something like that. Light-up piggy banks.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25Caroline has got a well-trained eye for a counterfeit.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28Not got any importer details on there, actually.
0:17:28 > 0:17:29Which they should have.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34Branded items will be sent to the rights holder to confirm
0:17:34 > 0:17:36whether or not they are genuine.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39With the fake toys in the shop front nearly dealt with, it is time
0:17:39 > 0:17:42to find out if there are any other fakes in the building.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47Caroline heads upstairs and finds a lot of boxes.
0:17:47 > 0:17:49So, we are in the store room.
0:17:49 > 0:17:52Not all of the goods in here or downstairs are fake, but we do
0:17:52 > 0:17:56have to sift through and check what items we've got up here as well.
0:17:56 > 0:17:58Also we need to check and make sure he's not just going to
0:17:58 > 0:18:01restock the shelves when we take everything from the shop floor.
0:18:03 > 0:18:06Before long, the team find more suspicious items.
0:18:07 > 0:18:12Lunchbox kits for Hello Kitty. Which...
0:18:12 > 0:18:14I suspect to be counterfeit.
0:18:15 > 0:18:20But other potential fakes are harder for Trading Standards to spot.
0:18:20 > 0:18:21The outer just says "scooter",
0:18:21 > 0:18:24there's no mention of any trademarks on there.
0:18:24 > 0:18:27The consumer boxes just say "scooter"
0:18:27 > 0:18:30with a picture of a pink scooter.
0:18:30 > 0:18:33No mention of trademarks. But when you open it up,
0:18:33 > 0:18:38there's a badly applied Disney Princess sticker on the base,
0:18:38 > 0:18:41at the front of the scooter and on the handle.
0:18:41 > 0:18:43So to me, they are definitely fake.
0:18:45 > 0:18:48The team eventually fill two large vans with fake toys.
0:18:50 > 0:18:52Back at the evidence store room,
0:18:52 > 0:18:54Caroline identifies more of the fakers' tricks.
0:18:55 > 0:18:59This toy displays the CE mark, which implies that the toy
0:18:59 > 0:19:02has been tested to the toy safety standard and passed the test,
0:19:02 > 0:19:04but we're quite certain that this product
0:19:04 > 0:19:06wouldn't pass toy safety standards
0:19:06 > 0:19:10because of how easily the suction cap is detached from the stick.
0:19:10 > 0:19:13Likelihood with the suction cap is that a child's going to lick it
0:19:13 > 0:19:17to make it stick and they could ingest it. Um...
0:19:17 > 0:19:20And obviously, it's a choking hazard. So it's a fake CE mark.
0:19:23 > 0:19:27All of the toys have since been confirmed as counterfeit.
0:19:27 > 0:19:30And the knight's bow and arrow set was confirmed as a choking hazard
0:19:30 > 0:19:33by an independent safety expert.
0:19:33 > 0:19:35An investigation is underway,
0:19:35 > 0:19:38which could result in the toy shop owner being prosecuted.
0:19:41 > 0:19:45Coming up, we will take a look at some of the most dangerous fake items
0:19:45 > 0:19:47ever marketed to British children.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50The child would be covered with boiling water
0:19:50 > 0:19:52and then exposed to live electricity.
0:19:58 > 0:20:01Wood-burning stoves have never been more popular
0:20:01 > 0:20:04as lots of people try to make their homes cosy
0:20:04 > 0:20:06and full of character.
0:20:06 > 0:20:09But installing one isn't straightforward.
0:20:09 > 0:20:11There are building regs there to protect us,
0:20:11 > 0:20:14so you can't just have a go.
0:20:14 > 0:20:18Like any heating appliance, they can be extremely dangerous
0:20:18 > 0:20:23if not fitted properly. Many people choose a trained professional.
0:20:23 > 0:20:27But what happens when your trained professional turns out to be...
0:20:27 > 0:20:28a fake?
0:20:30 > 0:20:34Over a million Brits now have a wood-burning stove in their home,
0:20:34 > 0:20:39with around 200,000 people a year having one installed.
0:20:39 > 0:20:42These stoves are relatively complex to put in
0:20:42 > 0:20:45and safety experts recommend hiring a professional.
0:20:46 > 0:20:48Most professional installers belong to
0:20:48 > 0:20:52Heating Equipment Testing And Approval Scheme, known as HETAS.
0:20:52 > 0:20:55It is a trade body that provides training and accreditation.
0:20:57 > 0:20:59Bruce Allen is the MD at HETAS
0:20:59 > 0:21:02and he has seen demand for the stoves soar.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05The past ten years saw an unprecedented growth in stove use,
0:21:05 > 0:21:08where stoves have come forward in design greatly.
0:21:10 > 0:21:12To become a registered HETAS installer,
0:21:12 > 0:21:15you need to undertake several days of training and then
0:21:15 > 0:21:19demonstrate to a HETAS inspector that you can safely install a stove.
0:21:20 > 0:21:25These checks will cost £500-£800, but recently, HETAS have had reports
0:21:25 > 0:21:28of a number of installers faking their credentials.
0:21:28 > 0:21:30One of the problems we find is that these guys
0:21:30 > 0:21:33really don't want to put the time, the effort and the money
0:21:33 > 0:21:37into doing the job properly, so they're not doing the real courses,
0:21:37 > 0:21:40they're faking their knowledge and they're trying to sort of
0:21:40 > 0:21:45circumvent the costs of trading and the cost of joining a scheme.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48What's happening is they really operate in the black market,
0:21:48 > 0:21:51so it is about avoiding all of the rules and regulations for them,
0:21:51 > 0:21:55it's about reducing their costs and maximising their income
0:21:55 > 0:21:57without actually doing the job properly.
0:21:57 > 0:21:59Basically, it's a way of ripping off customers.
0:21:59 > 0:22:02CHILD CHATTERS
0:22:02 > 0:22:05In Caerphilly, Wales, Lisa Watkins was looking for a registered
0:22:05 > 0:22:09installer to fit a wood-burning stove.
0:22:09 > 0:22:12But fake HETAS installers are operating across the country,
0:22:12 > 0:22:14as she was about to find out.
0:22:14 > 0:22:17We were trying to create a family home.
0:22:17 > 0:22:21We'd had our daughter, she was around 18 months old.
0:22:21 > 0:22:24We decided that we would like to put a second wood burner in the house
0:22:24 > 0:22:27and we were looking around for recommendations
0:22:27 > 0:22:30and Luke was recommended to us.
0:22:30 > 0:22:35The installer, Luke Hathaway, arrived and offered Lisa a quote.
0:22:35 > 0:22:38He told her he was both HETAS registered and trained.
0:22:38 > 0:22:42While it was true that Hathaway had started a HETAS training course,
0:22:42 > 0:22:44he had failed to complete it.
0:22:44 > 0:22:47The job took longer than Luke had promised,
0:22:47 > 0:22:49but eventually Lisa's stove was ready to light.
0:22:49 > 0:22:53He left us with a small bunch of kindling and told us that
0:22:53 > 0:22:56it was ready to light within a sort of hour after he'd left,
0:22:56 > 0:23:00just to make sure that all the fire cement had dried.
0:23:00 > 0:23:03After about two minutes, the room just filled with smoke.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06Smoke was coming out of all of the vents of the wood burner
0:23:06 > 0:23:09and I had to pick my 18-month-old daughter and run out of the house.
0:23:11 > 0:23:13Lisa was understandably terrified.
0:23:13 > 0:23:16I was just really, really frightened at the time.
0:23:16 > 0:23:18I didn't really know what was going on.
0:23:18 > 0:23:21We expected to have a fully-functioning wood burner
0:23:21 > 0:23:25and instead our home was filling with smoke.
0:23:25 > 0:23:28I think there were flames coming out of the back at one point.
0:23:28 > 0:23:30I mean, I didn't know if the house was going to catch fire.
0:23:30 > 0:23:34I was just really frightened for my daughter and my partner.
0:23:35 > 0:23:39Fortunately, Lisa's partner reacted quickly, putting the fire out.
0:23:39 > 0:23:41But the situation could have been much worse.
0:23:41 > 0:23:45Luckily, it was only a small amount of kindling.
0:23:45 > 0:23:48If we'd have, you know, shut the door, put a log on it
0:23:48 > 0:23:51and left it, then the whole house could have caught.
0:23:52 > 0:23:55Lisa contacted HETAS, but they were powerless to act.
0:23:56 > 0:23:59At this point, we couldn't remove Luke from a register
0:23:59 > 0:24:00that he wasn't already on,
0:24:00 > 0:24:03so we advised the consumers, along with ourselves,
0:24:03 > 0:24:06to pursue the matter through Trading Standards.
0:24:08 > 0:24:11Tim Keohane heads up the Caerphilly Trading Standards team
0:24:11 > 0:24:14and over the next few months, he discovered Hathaway had installed
0:24:14 > 0:24:17a total of five stoves all around the Caerphilly area.
0:24:19 > 0:24:23Investigations revealed that Hathaway was actually
0:24:23 > 0:24:27not only fitting the stoves poorly, but they weren't safe.
0:24:27 > 0:24:31And also, he was holding himself up to be HETAS accredited.
0:24:32 > 0:24:35And in fact, using fake documentation to prove that fact.
0:24:37 > 0:24:40Tim Keohane's team spoke with other customers and discovered Hathaway
0:24:40 > 0:24:44had been issuing invoices which stated he was HETAS registered.
0:24:44 > 0:24:48He had even got hold of an actual HETAS certificate,
0:24:48 > 0:24:52which prove your stove has been fitted by a genuine HETAS installer.
0:24:52 > 0:24:55The installer takes a copy, one is sent to HETAS
0:24:55 > 0:24:56and one is held by the customer.
0:24:56 > 0:24:59Faking these is a criminal offence.
0:24:59 > 0:25:04What we have here are three copies of the fake HETAS certificates
0:25:04 > 0:25:06issued by Hathaway.
0:25:06 > 0:25:09But of course, all the details about him are fake.
0:25:10 > 0:25:12Eventually, Trading Standards had enough evidence
0:25:12 > 0:25:15against Hathaway to stop him in his tracks.
0:25:15 > 0:25:18We eventually got Hathaway to court.
0:25:18 > 0:25:20He pleaded guilty to 12 offences
0:25:20 > 0:25:24under the Consumer Protection From Unfair Trading Regulations.
0:25:24 > 0:25:27I think the evidence was so strong because of the witnesses
0:25:27 > 0:25:32who were involved, along with the fact we managed to get an expert
0:25:32 > 0:25:36to examine one of the installations and state that it was dangerous.
0:25:38 > 0:25:42The HETAS inspection was carried out at Lisa's property
0:25:42 > 0:25:45and the stove Hathaway installed was classed as immediately dangerous.
0:25:47 > 0:25:48While Lisa and her family are safe,
0:25:48 > 0:25:52the cost of Hathaway's fakery has been substantial.
0:25:52 > 0:25:55This image is of the chimney liner,
0:25:55 > 0:25:58which should come all the way down the chimney,
0:25:58 > 0:26:01but in actual fact, because it was too short,
0:26:01 > 0:26:07Luke actually used 12 separate connectors
0:26:07 > 0:26:11to connect the chimney liner to the actual wood-burning stove.
0:26:11 > 0:26:15They were just held together with fire cement.
0:26:15 > 0:26:20The damage to the house as a whole ran to around £2,000.
0:26:20 > 0:26:24There was damage to wallpaper, there was damage to my carpets.
0:26:24 > 0:26:27Our living room resembled a building site.
0:26:27 > 0:26:28We were left with lots of rubble.
0:26:28 > 0:26:30Our living room was just completely ruined.
0:26:32 > 0:26:36Hathaway also failed to install a carbon monoxide detector
0:26:36 > 0:26:39at any of the homes Trading Standards investigated.
0:26:39 > 0:26:41Installing these devices is essential
0:26:41 > 0:26:45if the stove is to pass British building regulations.
0:26:45 > 0:26:48I think he was really, really irresponsible and dangerous.
0:26:48 > 0:26:51I mean, something as simple as a carbon monoxide detector
0:26:51 > 0:26:53could have saved our life.
0:26:53 > 0:26:56I mean, it just dreads to me to think what would have happened
0:26:56 > 0:26:58had we lit it and gone to bed.
0:26:58 > 0:27:03Unfortunately, cases like this aren't isolated incidents.
0:27:03 > 0:27:06HETAS have had reports of nearly a dozen fake installers
0:27:06 > 0:27:09operating across the country and they have started to track them down.
0:27:11 > 0:27:15Mike and Alan are part of HETAS's inspection team.
0:27:15 > 0:27:17They've had a tip-off from a builder
0:27:17 > 0:27:19of a potentially dangerous stove installation.
0:27:20 > 0:27:24What we know at this point is that somebody has gone in,
0:27:24 > 0:27:26they've carried out the installation and there are
0:27:26 > 0:27:30a lot of things relating to the installation that have
0:27:30 > 0:27:34raised concerns of the third party that is working in the property.
0:27:35 > 0:27:38Mike has checked the installer's name against HETAS's database
0:27:38 > 0:27:41and it is not registered. To make matters worse,
0:27:41 > 0:27:45this unregistered installer has been presenting fake documentation.
0:27:47 > 0:27:50OK, so it is clearly evident that the HETAS logo has been
0:27:50 > 0:27:56faked onto this document in a clear attempt to, basically,
0:27:56 > 0:28:00lead the consumer to believe that the installation has been
0:28:00 > 0:28:02carried out by a HETAS registered installer.
0:28:04 > 0:28:07The installer's documentation might be fake,
0:28:07 > 0:28:10but is the stove he has installed dangerous?
0:28:10 > 0:28:12The couple living here, who don't wish to be identified,
0:28:12 > 0:28:16paid several hundred pounds for a professionally-installed stove.
0:28:18 > 0:28:21The team will be using this specialist miniature camera
0:28:21 > 0:28:22to take a look inside the flue,
0:28:22 > 0:28:25the piping which runs all the way up to the chimney.
0:28:26 > 0:28:28Right, what Alan is doing now
0:28:28 > 0:28:30is feeding the camera up through the flue.
0:28:36 > 0:28:38The camera gradually makes its way up the flue.
0:28:40 > 0:28:42At the point where the flue's been attached to
0:28:42 > 0:28:43the house's existing chimney,
0:28:43 > 0:28:46the camera reveals a serious cause for concern.
0:28:49 > 0:28:51That there is your expanding foam,
0:28:51 > 0:28:53this is your flexible flue liner
0:28:53 > 0:28:57and this is the system chimney that has been used to join the two
0:28:57 > 0:28:59to terminate the building.
0:28:59 > 0:29:02And this is what's been used as a sealant between the two,
0:29:02 > 0:29:06which is totally against regulations and is a fire hazard.
0:29:08 > 0:29:11This material should never be used in this way.
0:29:11 > 0:29:14But the HETAS team also want to inspect the work
0:29:14 > 0:29:16carried out in the attic.
0:29:16 > 0:29:19The workmanship around the sealing of the flu here, the sealing of
0:29:19 > 0:29:24the chimney stack, the distance to combustibles.
0:29:24 > 0:29:28As this system chimney goes through the fabric of the building,
0:29:28 > 0:29:29it is up against the felt.
0:29:29 > 0:29:31This is deemed as combustible material.
0:29:31 > 0:29:35But you've also got a wooden baton that should have been trimmed back
0:29:35 > 0:29:40a minimum of 50mm, and it's only just 40mm.
0:29:41 > 0:29:45This fake installer's botched job could have had tragic consequences
0:29:45 > 0:29:47for the couple living here.
0:29:48 > 0:29:52The ultimate scenario would be that there could have been a fire
0:29:52 > 0:29:55within the chimney or it could have, you know,
0:29:55 > 0:29:58caused combustion here, up against the wood here.
0:29:58 > 0:30:02It really is an accident waiting to happen, to be honest.
0:30:02 > 0:30:05Mike explains the situation to the couple
0:30:05 > 0:30:08and recommends some approved installers in their area.
0:30:08 > 0:30:12He also advises them to contact Trading Standards.
0:30:12 > 0:30:15An investigation has been launched into this fake installer
0:30:15 > 0:30:16and is ongoing.
0:30:24 > 0:30:27Earlier, we saw Trading Standards searching this toy shop
0:30:27 > 0:30:29and discovering fake after fake.
0:30:31 > 0:30:35But these are not the only dangerous products out there aimed at children.
0:30:36 > 0:30:41The vast majority of fake toys coming into the UK arrive through our ports.
0:30:41 > 0:30:45Border Force officers recently discovered a haul of products
0:30:45 > 0:30:48aimed at children that looked fluffy enough on the outside,
0:30:48 > 0:30:50but were in fact hiding a dark secret.
0:30:52 > 0:30:55They called on Mark Rolfe from Kent Trading Standards.
0:30:55 > 0:30:57They're a fairly simple device.
0:30:57 > 0:31:01Cuddly toy on top, underneath there is a hot water bottle,
0:31:01 > 0:31:04which is separate from the cuddly dog.
0:31:04 > 0:31:06You fill it up with water through here
0:31:06 > 0:31:09and then you plug it into the mains.
0:31:09 > 0:31:11The idea, obviously, is that it heats the water
0:31:11 > 0:31:13and you've got yourself a toy hot water bottle.
0:31:13 > 0:31:16The problem with these products is when you get inside to the
0:31:16 > 0:31:19electrics. I mean, it doesn't make sense, if you think about it,
0:31:19 > 0:31:21to plug a hot water bottle into the mains.
0:31:21 > 0:31:23But if I cut this one open...
0:31:29 > 0:31:34..what we have inside is a thin plastic water tank.
0:31:34 > 0:31:37It has in it a tablet here which dissolves in the water
0:31:37 > 0:31:39and it makes the water conduct electricity.
0:31:40 > 0:31:43And then you have the electrics, which is this part here.
0:31:43 > 0:31:48These two screws are just electrodes and the way this heats the water up
0:31:48 > 0:31:51is to pass mains electricity through the water,
0:31:51 > 0:31:55which has got this dissolved in it to make it conduct the electricity.
0:31:55 > 0:31:58So actually, all that separates you as a user, or the child using this,
0:31:58 > 0:32:02from mains electricity is this thin piece of plastic.
0:32:02 > 0:32:07Mark was understandably concerned by the children's hot water bottle,
0:32:07 > 0:32:08so he sent it for testing.
0:32:08 > 0:32:11The findings would scare any parent.
0:32:13 > 0:32:15One of the safety issues we have identified with this is that
0:32:15 > 0:32:19the means of it cutting out if the water gets too hot is unreliable.
0:32:19 > 0:32:21What that means is that the water could boil in the bag
0:32:21 > 0:32:23and boiling water, obviously, turns to steam,
0:32:23 > 0:32:27steam expands remarkably quickly, leading to the bag bursting.
0:32:27 > 0:32:29And a child would be covered with boiling water
0:32:29 > 0:32:31and then exposed to live electricity.
0:32:31 > 0:32:34Really, from a child protection point of view, it couldn't be worse.
0:32:34 > 0:32:36Despite the dangers inside,
0:32:36 > 0:32:40this product is covered in safety markings, all of which are fake.
0:32:40 > 0:32:42The people who've manufactured this potential deathtrap
0:32:42 > 0:32:45have really gone to town to try and make sure that consumers
0:32:45 > 0:32:46think it is a safe item.
0:32:46 > 0:32:48They've put the CE mark everywhere.
0:32:48 > 0:32:53It is there on the actual toy itself and they've actually applied it
0:32:53 > 0:32:56to the packaging of the box here as well with all the other symbols
0:32:56 > 0:32:59that you would expect to find on a quality item.
0:32:59 > 0:33:02For Mark Rolfe, seeing a CE mark being faked
0:33:02 > 0:33:04on such a potentially dangerous product
0:33:04 > 0:33:09is particularly frustrating as it undermines a standard we all trust.
0:33:09 > 0:33:12The reason for that is we tell people to rely on it,
0:33:12 > 0:33:15we tell parents to rely on it when buying toys for their children,
0:33:15 > 0:33:18and if people are faking it, actually that puts children at risk
0:33:18 > 0:33:21with parents being as responsible as they can be.
0:33:21 > 0:33:26An investigation into these dangerous soft toys is now underway
0:33:26 > 0:33:29and Mark Rolfe has no doubts about the kind of criminal
0:33:29 > 0:33:33pushing this product out to unsuspecting parents.
0:33:33 > 0:33:36This is organised criminal gangs duping responsible parents
0:33:36 > 0:33:38into believing their products are safe,
0:33:38 > 0:33:41when they are, in fact, incredibly dangerous.
0:33:48 > 0:33:52We all know about the perils of buying a second-hand car.
0:33:52 > 0:33:56That's why it's wise to see all those important service documents
0:33:56 > 0:33:58and to check things like the mileage.
0:33:58 > 0:34:01They have a crucial effect on what it a car is worth
0:34:01 > 0:34:03and on how it is going to perform.
0:34:03 > 0:34:05But, of course, the fakers know that too and some of them
0:34:05 > 0:34:09will go to extraordinary lengths to deceive an unwary buyer.
0:34:09 > 0:34:12If a faker can buy a completely blank service history booklet,
0:34:12 > 0:34:16like this, on the internet and fill it in himself, well,
0:34:16 > 0:34:20who's to know what sort of second-hand car you might be buying?
0:34:22 > 0:34:27The second-hand car market is now worth 40 billion a year
0:34:27 > 0:34:30and there are more used cars on the road than ever before.
0:34:31 > 0:34:33But the fakers know there's money to be made
0:34:33 > 0:34:36and they are finding new ways to play old tricks.
0:34:36 > 0:34:37Come on.
0:34:37 > 0:34:40Tim Moss from the Midlands was about to discover the length
0:34:40 > 0:34:45the fakers will go to to dupe unsuspecting targets.
0:34:45 > 0:34:49I decided to invest a lot of my savings into a new car
0:34:49 > 0:34:51purely and simply because I wanted a vehicle
0:34:51 > 0:34:53that would keep me going when I retired.
0:34:54 > 0:34:58Low mileage was one of my top priorities because I wanted a car
0:34:58 > 0:35:00that was going to last me, that I
0:35:00 > 0:35:02wouldn't have to do any major repairs to.
0:35:04 > 0:35:07Tim eventually found what he thought was the perfect car
0:35:07 > 0:35:10at a decent price. He arranged to meet the seller
0:35:10 > 0:35:11and took the car for a test drive.
0:35:13 > 0:35:17The seller wanted £3,600 in cash.
0:35:17 > 0:35:19Tim, happy with both the price and the car's performance,
0:35:19 > 0:35:21asked to look at the paperwork.
0:35:23 > 0:35:26The document Tim was shown included detailed service histories
0:35:26 > 0:35:30and invoices for repair work the car had undergone.
0:35:30 > 0:35:33But unfortunately for Tim, the car he'd spent his savings on
0:35:33 > 0:35:38wasn't the reliable, low-mileage vehicle he believed he'd purchased.
0:35:38 > 0:35:43The mileage had been clocked and over 100,000 miles taken of the odometer.
0:35:45 > 0:35:49After I'd found it had done a large mileage, then you start
0:35:49 > 0:35:53seeing the problems, like the corrosion along the front
0:35:53 > 0:35:54and the tops of the springs
0:35:54 > 0:35:57and along the front, especially, of the engine.
0:36:00 > 0:36:03And before long, the car was needing replacement parts,
0:36:03 > 0:36:08including a new cam belt and all of the internal electronics.
0:36:08 > 0:36:13All the replacement parts and the costs that I've had to pay for
0:36:13 > 0:36:16have amounted to around £1,200.
0:36:17 > 0:36:20But what Tim didn't know was that there were other buyers
0:36:20 > 0:36:24across the Midlands who' also been conned by the seller, Steve Meacham.
0:36:25 > 0:36:28Derby Trading Standards were alerted to Meacham's activities
0:36:28 > 0:36:31when one of the distressed buyers contacted them.
0:36:32 > 0:36:34Doug Walkman heads up the team.
0:36:34 > 0:36:39His officers started by examining the documents from the other buyers.
0:36:39 > 0:36:42This is a genuine service history log.
0:36:42 > 0:36:44As you can see here, in red are
0:36:44 > 0:36:47the genuine service history dealer stamps
0:36:47 > 0:36:50and the ones in black are the ones that are fake.
0:36:50 > 0:36:52What is interesting in this one
0:36:52 > 0:36:56is that the previous keeper had this serviced up to about 11,000 miles
0:36:56 > 0:36:59and then took it elsewhere for its servicing.
0:36:59 > 0:37:02As you can see, the last stamp has got 46,000 on it,
0:37:02 > 0:37:04which is the altered mileage.
0:37:04 > 0:37:09In fact, this vehicle had done in excess of 150,000 miles.
0:37:09 > 0:37:12So, they have taken the best part of 100,000 miles off the clock.
0:37:12 > 0:37:15We knew then that we were doing with something a lot more complex
0:37:15 > 0:37:19than just a normal car clocking case,
0:37:19 > 0:37:25which led my officers to investigate further, and then we started
0:37:25 > 0:37:29looking at other vehicles that this person had sold and discovered
0:37:29 > 0:37:32there were more links to fake service history and documentation.
0:37:32 > 0:37:36Meacham was also creating fake invoices to convince buyers
0:37:36 > 0:37:38the cars had been recently serviced.
0:37:38 > 0:37:41These are fake invoices.
0:37:41 > 0:37:45If you look at them closely, the dates are almost a year apart
0:37:45 > 0:37:48but the invoice number is actually identical.
0:37:48 > 0:37:51So, this was another key part of our investigation,
0:37:51 > 0:37:54knowing that this documentation was actually fake.
0:37:54 > 0:37:58The garage itself does exist and does produce documentation,
0:37:58 > 0:38:01but not on letterheads like we have in front of you here.
0:38:02 > 0:38:06The Trading Standards team soon had enough evidence to arrest Meacham,
0:38:06 > 0:38:09and checks on his eBay records found he'd purchased
0:38:09 > 0:38:13an item to make his fakery more convincing.
0:38:13 > 0:38:17We discovered, through looking at the fraudster's eBay accounts,
0:38:17 > 0:38:20that three days before he sold his first vehicle,
0:38:20 > 0:38:23that he'd actually purchased a stamp kit,
0:38:23 > 0:38:27which we believe has been used to create the service histories.
0:38:27 > 0:38:30Meacham had also purchased service history booklets.
0:38:30 > 0:38:35Items like these for all of the leading car brands are sold online.
0:38:35 > 0:38:38But Meacham used them to add authenticity
0:38:38 > 0:38:40to the fake documents he showed buyers.
0:38:42 > 0:38:45In total, Trading Standards investigators took statements from
0:38:45 > 0:38:49nearly 30 buyers claiming to have been sold clocked cars by Meacham.
0:38:49 > 0:38:55We have seen above 1.2 million miles wiped off the histories
0:38:55 > 0:38:57of these vehicles.
0:38:57 > 0:38:59So, it is a significant fraud
0:38:59 > 0:39:04and we're glad that we've actually managed to bring it to conclusion.
0:39:04 > 0:39:06Meacham eventually pleaded guilty.
0:39:06 > 0:39:09He was sentenced to 30 months in prison on multiple counts
0:39:09 > 0:39:13of selling clocked cars and falsifying documentation,
0:39:13 > 0:39:16including MOTs and services histories.
0:39:16 > 0:39:19But his many buyers have had to accept huge losses
0:39:19 > 0:39:21on the vehicles they were sold.
0:39:22 > 0:39:25I am still out of pocket, as are other victims,
0:39:25 > 0:39:29and I feel that he should be made to pay back some of that money.
0:39:35 > 0:39:38And this is another children's product that's being faked.
0:39:38 > 0:39:41If you have ever seen a kid skating down the street on what
0:39:41 > 0:39:43appears to be a pair of trainers,
0:39:43 > 0:39:46then you have probably just seen them using a pair of Heelys.
0:39:46 > 0:39:49They are trainers with built-in wheels.
0:39:49 > 0:39:53I really liked Heelys because I would just whiz about on them
0:39:53 > 0:39:55in my street, in the shops, wherever.
0:39:55 > 0:39:57It was just really fun to have some.
0:39:57 > 0:40:00They cost around £40 and are sold online
0:40:00 > 0:40:03and at specialist retailers across the UK.
0:40:03 > 0:40:07Since they hit the shelves, over 50,000 pairs have been sold.
0:40:07 > 0:40:10But the fakers also wants to be rolling in profits.
0:40:13 > 0:40:16Charlie Shiner's company has been selling Heelys here in the UK
0:40:16 > 0:40:21since 2004, and of late he has seen an unprecedented number of fakes.
0:40:22 > 0:40:26A recent seizure netted 200 pairs of counterfeit Heelys.
0:40:27 > 0:40:32This particular batch, we identified being sold in the UK online.
0:40:32 > 0:40:36We made a test purchase and made Trading Standards aware of it.
0:40:36 > 0:40:39In this case, Trading Standards ordered the seller
0:40:39 > 0:40:43to surrender the merchandise, but he is one of dozens of online traders
0:40:43 > 0:40:46selling fake versions of the product.
0:40:46 > 0:40:50So, what is the difference between a real Heelys shoe and a fake?
0:40:50 > 0:40:53So, this shoe is an original Heelys,
0:40:53 > 0:40:58this shoe is a fake where the Heelys is spelt wrong.
0:40:58 > 0:41:02So, this model obviously has H-E-A-L-Y-S,
0:41:02 > 0:41:05so they have changed the E to an A.
0:41:05 > 0:41:09The fakers misspell the Heelys name in the hope of evading prosecution,
0:41:09 > 0:41:12but clearly they are attempting to fool consumers
0:41:12 > 0:41:13by ripping off the brand.
0:41:14 > 0:41:18They are trying to use very, very similar logo that we have,
0:41:18 > 0:41:21but not quite the same. It is a good copy.
0:41:21 > 0:41:23With this copy in particular,
0:41:23 > 0:41:26they are trying to get around trademark law.
0:41:26 > 0:41:29But how dangerous are these fakes?
0:41:29 > 0:41:32The wheels of the fakes are made of inferior materials.
0:41:32 > 0:41:33The harder the wheel,
0:41:33 > 0:41:37the more bumpy and less controlled the ride will be.
0:41:37 > 0:41:40The fake wheel is harder because it's made of PVC,
0:41:40 > 0:41:43which means it can't handle rough surfaces in the way
0:41:43 > 0:41:47a real Heelys wheel can, making an accident far more likely.
0:41:49 > 0:41:52But as customers are becoming more aware of the fake Heelys,
0:41:52 > 0:41:55the counterfeiters have started producing
0:41:55 > 0:41:57even more sophisticated fakes.
0:41:57 > 0:42:01I've seen a range of fakes and this is the most convincing I've seen.
0:42:01 > 0:42:03All the Heelys branding all over it.
0:42:06 > 0:42:10And even inside the shoe, there's a label identical to ours.
0:42:10 > 0:42:12That is the level of the fakery.
0:42:13 > 0:42:17They even have the hang tag attached, branded with Heelys.
0:42:19 > 0:42:22And they have gone down to faking the plastic bag
0:42:22 > 0:42:27that the tool comes in and the tool even has Heelys branding on.
0:42:27 > 0:42:30So, they're unbelievably good fakes.
0:42:30 > 0:42:32You can only spot them with a trained eye.
0:42:32 > 0:42:37So, would these fakes have fooled our young Heelys fans?
0:42:37 > 0:42:39They're pretty convincing!
0:42:39 > 0:42:41Yeah. I thought they were real.
0:42:41 > 0:42:43Yeah, they are really convincing fakes.
0:42:43 > 0:42:44I wouldn't tell the difference.
0:42:44 > 0:42:48I thought they were, like, real Heelys, to be fair.
0:42:48 > 0:42:51That's surprising how realistic they look.
0:42:51 > 0:42:53And they're quite well made for a fake,
0:42:53 > 0:42:55so I am surprised at that. Definitely, yeah.
0:42:56 > 0:43:00None of these fakes will make it onto the feet of unsuspecting children.
0:43:00 > 0:43:03They are going to be destroyed and safely disposed of.
0:43:11 > 0:43:14That is all from Fake Britain. Goodbye.